Messi best in the world, Modric best this season says Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic

On one hand, there’s international teammate Luka Modric, who won the Golden Ball for best player at the World Cup, added UEFA’s Best Men’s Player award, and is on the three-man list of finalists for FIFA’s award.

On the other, there’s Lionel Messi, who was shockingly left out of the three-man shortlists for both the UEFA and FIFA awards despite another stunning season for his club.

Rakitic has found a diplomatic answer to any Messi v Modric questions, however.

“Messi is the best player in the world and in the history of the game,” the midfielder said ahead of Croatia’s loss to Spain on Wednesday. “[But this year] Luka deserves everything,”

Experienced midfielder Busquets won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with his country but was also part of the squads which failed to progress past the last-16 stage at the past two World Cups and Euro 2016.

New coach Enqriue, who replaced the sacked Julen Lopetegui in July, began his tenure with Saturday’s 2-1 victory over England in the Nations League.

Ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Croatia in the same competition, Barcelona player Busquets insists his country must look to the future.

“It’s hard to repeat a World Cup and nothing is impossible,” said Busquets at his pre-match press conference.